If you are looking for something to do this weekend that doesn’t involve 300+ pound men smacking each other around in order to move a ball over a goal line, I strongly recommend ZAP’s Zinfandel Festival.  

ZAP, Zinfandel Advocates and Producers, is having it’s annual Zinfandel wine festival. Tickets to all available events can be purchased here.  

Zin Fest begins today with a showcase of Zinfandel wines (unfortunately, it’s sold out).  

Thursday is the day to go if you want to enjoy food paired with Zinfandel wines. Various restaurants and their chefs will be creating and serving food that is matched with a variety of Zinfandel wines.   The Cevapcici served with an Opolo Vineyard Zin or Lamb Chops paired with a Manzanita Zin sounds delicious.

Friday evening’s program, an Evening With The Winemakers, is also sold out. 

I will be attending Saturday’s 18th Annual Grand Zinfandel Tasting.  At the Grand Tasting, one has access to approximately 250 wineries pouring their latest offerings.  The Grand tasting will again be held in the Herbst and Festival buildings at Fort Mason and the wineries are arranged in alphabetical order between the two buildings.  

Tip:  you might go to the “R” area early because there tends to be longer lines at those wineries.

Enjoy the the depth and breath of Zinfandel wines, take public transportation and be smart about driving after the event.

Click here if you want to see what Gary Vaynerchuck has to say about ZAP.

See you there…. Enjoy! 

Image via Wikipedia

These photos were taken at Ridge Vineyards on the top of Monte Bello Road in the Cupertino foothills.  Enjoy! 

By the way, Ridge Vineyards is a great place to go wine tasting.  Their staff is knowledgeable, the setting is outstanding, and the wine is excellent.

Snow covered vines at Ridge Vineyards

Snow at Ridge’s Monte Bello tasting room

Fernwood Cellars (State and Fourth), Roudon-Smith Winery (Main and Second), Page Mill Winery (Main and Second), Thomas Fogarty Winery (Main and Third) and Leal Vineyards (Main and Third) will also have representatives pouring wines this weekend.

To taste the wine or any of the specialty beers, patrons are asked to purchase a wristband (which also gets your either a wine glass or beer mug).  Once you have the glass (wristband) you can visit any of the wine or beer booths and purchase a “pour” of your favorite beverage.  The cost of each “pour” ranges from approximately $4.00 – $7.00. 

Note: If you don’t have a wrist band, you won’t be served.  In prior years, patrons would bring old art and wine glasses and try to use then in hopes of not paying the fee to get the current year’s glass. Patrons can bring prior year’s glasses, but unless they have purchased a wristband, they won’t be served.

As always, all my current and past clients who have wristbands can stop by the Naumann Vineyards booth (Saturday between 10:00 am – 12:45 pm, ie. while I am there)) and I will buy you a glass of wine. 

Come to Pinot Days Grand Festival public tasting at Fort Mason in San Francisco.  The tasting is this Sunday (June 29th, 2008) from 1:00 – 5:00.  The cost is $65.00 and tickets can be purchased at the door.  I recommend arriving about 1/2 hour before the doors open to reduce the amount of time waiting in line.

Once inside the doors, you will be able to taste from over 170 producers of Pinot Noir who will be pouring almost 400 different wines.  Most of the wines will be from California, but wines from Oregon, New Zealand and Burgundy will also be available to taste.

Note: With the variety and shear volume of wine available to taste, this is an event where you could drink too much.  Have a great time, but please drink responsibly!

Rhone Rangers Grand Tasting will be held Sunday (3/16) at Fort Mason’s Festival Pavilion from 2:00pm – 5:00pm.  Sample Rhone varietals from over 130 Rhone Ranger member wineries and 35 artisan food producers from the Bay Area and beyond.

Testarossa Vineyards will be holding its Bein Nacido Vineyard release weekend (3/15-3/16) from 11:00am – 4:00pm.  The 2006 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay and 2006 Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir will available to taste.

Bargetto Winery’s will be holding its Monterey Tasting room grand opening this weekend (3/15-3/16) from 1:oopm – 6:00pm.  Celebrate the grand opening with barrel tastings, food, music and complimentary wine tasting.

Solis Winery will be holding its Merlot Madness this weekend (3/15-3/16) from 12:00pm – 4:30pm.

Kirigin Cellars will be releasing their 2007 Malvasia Bianca and 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon this weekend (3/15-3/16).

Burrell School Vineyards and Winery will be having a Jude Bischoff Art show on Sunday (3/16)

Have fun and be safe!

The Willamette Valley, which is just south and slightly west of Portland, is world famous for its high quality Pinot Noir wines.  Prior to the trip, I try to pick out a few wineries to visit by going to the Willamette Valley Wineries Association web site.  We stopped in Corvallis at the Belle Valee Cellars, a medium sized winery specializing in Pinot Noir wines.

Belle Valee is co-owned by Steve Allen, Mike Magee and Joe Wright.  Joe is also the head winemaker.  An interesting fact about Belle Valee is Mike Magee’s wife is a Mountain View High School graduate.  Although I did not know her, Claire (Hamak) Magee grew up in Waverly Park and later moved to Corvallis and helps her husband at the winery.  Note: the fused glass labels for Belle Valee wines where created by Claire at her studio, Hamak Designs Inc.

When we arrived we were given a short tour of the facility and I got to taste the 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  After the tasting,  Joe Wright showed us how foil caps are put on bottles.  I was fortunate to be able to spend about 1/2 hour chatting with Claire Magee and Mike Helberg about grapes, production processes and the vineyard sites that they contract their grapes from.  I thought it interesting as Mike explained about the different types of soils and other “technical” wine growing stuff about the grapes they use.  All-in-all, I had a great time.  I learned a little and got to taste some pretty good wine that didn’t break the bank.  I would definitely recommend it as a fun little side trip for anyone driving to Portland.

Next Saturday (January 19th) is the first “Passport” event of the year for the Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association.  The Passport program occurs every third Saturday in January, April, July and November.  Participants purchase a “passport” for $30.00 to taste wines from a multitude of Santa Cruz Mountain area wineries.  At each stop, the passport is given a commemorative stamp.  This is a great opportunity to taste wines at wineries that aren’t open at any other time of the year.

The following week (January 23-26) is ZAP’s Zinfest, an unbelievable showcase of Zinfandel wines.  The program lasts four days, but the public tasting will be held on Saturday the 26th from 2:00-5:00 p.m. in the Herbst and Festival Pavilions at Fort Mason.  Its $49.00 for ZAP members and $59.00 for non-members.  The price includes a logo tasting glass and small loaf of bread.  The 2006 vintage will be showcased, including barrel samples and new releases. The Tasting Program provided at this event is the most comprehensive listing of Zinfandel wineries anywhere.  There are more wines than anyone could possibly taste in 3 hours.  Be careful because there is so much good wine that if you don’t pace yourself, you’ll get blotto’d quickly.

On Saturday February 2nd, several Napa Valley wineries will be having their release parties.  Historically, the largest crowds can be found at the Silver Oak Cellars Napa Valley Cabernet release party.  Silver Oak will be releasing its 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet.  Note:  the retail price for a 750ml bottle is $100. Tickets are $20 per person, which includes a complimentary Silver Oak logo wineglass. 

Hartwell Estate will be hosting a wine, cheese and chocolate open house.  The hours are 11:00 am - 3:00 pm and is free to Select Club Members and $15. for the general public.  This is a relative bargain because their tours/tastings are normally $45.00. and are limited (Weds – Sat at 11:00 am or 2:00 pm).  Note: the retail price for the 2004 Estate Reserve Cabernet (750 ml) is $115.00. 

Flora Springs Winery will be holding its open house from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.  This is the 30th year for Flora Springs Winery and they’ll be pouring the 2005 Trilogy wine  The cost is $50.00 per couple ($25.00 each) for wine club members and $60.00 per couple ($30.00 each) for the general public and includes a complimentary logo glass.

In Vino Veritas.  Enjoy!